Reforms to Enhance the Status of Teachers and Their Social Impact in Uzbekistan (2017–2021)

Between 2017 and 2021, large-scale reforms were implemented in the education system of Uzbekistan. During this period, one of the main tasks was to improve the status of teachers, enhance their socio-economic conditions, and strengthen the legal foundations of pedagogical activity. The main feature of the reforms was the rehabilitation of the prestige of the teaching profession in the society, the structure of the educational process according to the modern needs, and its orientation to the European standards. In particular, the adoption of Decree PF-5538 in 2018 aimed at updating the system of public education, and the 2019 Resolution PQ-4306 was devoted to the improvement of material incentives of the teachers. Also, the Law on Education (ORQ-637) and Decree PF-6108 described the legal status, professional activity guarantees of a teacher and the perspectives of the orientation of the education system in the future. This led to the abolition of compulsory labor, social protection of teachers enhanced, salaries boosted, and professional development and retraining system revised. In addition, the possibilities of teachers to learn new methods and ICT technologies were increased. The reforms raised the interest of potential students in the sphere of pedagogy, influenced a more positive attitude to the role of a teacher both in a family and community, and the Teachers and Mentors Day became a national holiday. These changes improved the content and quality of the educational process, significantly raising Uzbekistan's position in international education rankings.